Using intracellular plasmonics to characterize nanomorphology in human cells

Abstract

A finer way to look inside cells Researchers in Canada have demonstrated a technique to gather high-resolution information about nanoparticles distributed within cells. The team, led by Muthukumaran Packirisamy of Concordia University, used hyperspectral imaging combined with dark-field imaging to detect nanoparticles injected into human cancer cells. The technique is quick and does not require that the nanoparticles be labeled. Interactions between the nanoparticles and their microenvironment affect the optical responses of the nanoparticles, making it possible to use them to detect differences between subcellular regions or compartments. The team tested the approach with three types of gold nanoparticles: nanospheres, nanostars, and an Ayurvedic medicine known as Swarna Bhasma. They found that nanospheres performed better than nanostars or Swarna Bhasma. By selecting particles of the appropriate size and morphology, this imaging technique can be a powerful tool for subcellular diagnosis.